Close Bangladesh 288 and 163 for 3 (Bashar 82*, Saleh 27*) lead Pakistan 346 (Yasir 170, Latif 54*) by 105 runs
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Bangladesh have often been accused of throwing it away all too easily, but they showed enormous determination and resolve on the third day of the first Test at Karachi. First, the bowlers grabbed Pakistan’s last five wickets for just 45 runs, and then Bangladesh’s batsmen – led by Habibul Bashar again – ensured that they built on the good work. By the close Bangladesh had wiped out the 58-run first-innings deficit and scored 163 for 3, a lead of 105. If Pakistan expected a romp in the park, it certainly didn’t turn out that way.Dav Whatmore’s influence was obvious on a team which, so far in their international career, have shown little relish for a fight. Pakistan clearly held the upper hand when play began, but Bangladesh bowled with tremendous discipline, choking the runs and chipping away at the wickets. Then, their batsmen displayed the solidity and patience which is expected in Test cricket. Bashar (82 not out) scored his second half-century of the Test – the fourth time he has achieved this feat – while Hannan Sarkar and Rajin Saleh gave him splendid support.As in their first innings, Bangladesh stuttered at the start, when Javed Omar was leg-before to Shoaib Akhtar for 13 (19 for 1). It very nearly became 19 for 2, when Bashar slashed at his first ball and was dropped by Yasir Hameed – the second day’s hero – at third slip. Bashar started off playing plenty of risky strokes, but then settled down to bat with more responsibility. The lack of pace and bounce in the pitch helped the batsmen too.Sarkar looked good for plenty more but played a rash sweep off Mohammad Hafeez to be trapped in front for 30 an over before tea (73 for 2). Sanwar Hossain went cheaply immediately after the break, but Saleh – playing in his first Test – showed excellent grit, temperament and technique. Especially engrossing was a confrontation with Shoaib late in the day, when Saleh was peppered with plenty of short stuff, but stood up on tiptoe to defend, or weaved out of the way. Shoaib was frustrated enough to hurl the ball at Saleh when he pushed it back to the bowler, but it did little to fluster the batsman. Saleh finished the day unbeaten on 27, but it was worth many more.Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers choked the runs with a sustained spell of line-and-length bowling, and then reaped the rewards as Pakistan lost quick wickets. Despite being denied a couple of plumb lbw shouts, the Bangladesh attack never eased the pressure. Mashrafe Mortaza got things rolling when he finally did win an lbw appeal, trapping Misbah-ul-Haq in front for 13 (303 for 6).Mohammad Rafique then nailed Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed as the first 15 overs of the day produced just 12 runs. Though two fours in Alok Kapali’s first over broke the tedium briefly, that also forced Khaled Mahmud to bring himself on, with telling effect. Mahmud’s only Test wicket had come in his second Test, and after toiling 106 overs in his next six matches, he finally had something to show for his efforts. A gentle half-volley outside leg did the trick, as Danish Kaneria played too early and scooped a return catch (338 for 9). Mahmud nonchalantly tossed the ball to the umpire, but the occasion wasn’t lost on his team-mates, who converged from all parts of the ground to celebrate a rare success, and the halving of his Test average to 240.Rashid Latif survived the flurry of wickets at the other end to remain unbeaten on 54, and by close of play, was left ruminating about the prospect of chasing a sizeable fourth-innings target.

The exodus from Zimbabwe cricket continues unabated with the news that the former national captain Brian Murphy has now left the country. According to Max Ebrahim, Zimbabwe’s convener of selectors, Murphy has taken up a post coaching and playing cricket at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.Murphy, 26, is the eighth international player to leave Zimbabwe cricket prematurely during 2003. Guy Whittall called it a day because of injury problems, but the others still had time in the game ahead of them had they chosen to continue playing.Part of the reason is the current political and economic situation at home, but there are also many who are unhappy, justifiably or otherwise, about their relationship with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. Andy Flower and Murray Goodwin have both spoken out recently to criticise the ZCU for their management of players, and with such an exodus of experienced players the board does need to take a long hard look at why so many are opting out.Murphy, captain of Zimbabwe briefly in 2001-02 until his tenure was cut short by a chronic finger injury, had a fairytale start to his international career. A legspinner, his path to Test cricket was blocked in the late ’90s by two senior leggies in the shapes of Paul Strang and Adam Huckle. But Huckle unexpectedly retired after the 1999 World Cup ,and then Strang suffered a serious hand injury. Zimbabwe suddenly found themselves without a quality spinner of any type.A former Under-19 captain, Murphy was awaiting his finals at the University of Cape Town, not having played in Zimbabwe for several seasons, when he received a totally unexpected call-up for the tour of West Indies early in 2000, followed by a trip to England. He was never quite able to cement his place in the national side, taking 18 wickets at a cost of over 60 in his 11 Tests, and averaging just over 10 with the bat, although he did prove an obdurate nightwatchman.When Murphy returned to top cricket in 2002-03 after his hand injury, Heath Streak had been reinstated as captain and Murphy’s place in the team had gone to the rapidly improving left-arm spinner Raymond Price. He had a good club season, with his batting improving by leaps and bounds, and the selectors showed he was still in their thoughts when they invited him to captain Zimbabwe A in their tour of Namibia last August.But Murphy declined, preferring to play for his club side in England where he was earning more money. Now comes his move to Cape Town, which has almost certainly drawn down the curtain on a somewhat unfulfilled first-class career. He has a fine cricket brain, as evidenced by his selections to captain teams over the years, and was clearly approaching his best years as a player. This is another serious loss for Zimbabwe cricket.

Few Australian first-class matches would test players’ commitment to the new Spirit of Cricket code more than Victoria v Queensland.But Bulls coach Terry Oliver said the fine imposed on West Australian paceman Paul Wilson during a Pura Cup match last month had shown Cricket Australia meant business with its tougher player behaviour rules.Victoria will host its arch-rival from tomorrow in a Pura Cup match at Junction Oval, followed by Sunday’s ING Cup one-dayer at the MCG.They have a history of hard-fought games, but Oliver said their conduct had been “really good” last week when they played a Pura Cup match and a one-dayer in Brisbane.”Everyone stood up and took notice when he (Wilson) was fined,” Oliver said.”We all had to learn from that – if our game had been the first one (of the season), you never know.”I’d like to think it (the new code) wouldn’t interfere with people being really competitive.”Sometimes you’ve got to get into the opposition’s face, but you can’t cross that line between gamesmanship and getting personal.”While last week’s matches might have been played in the right spirit, the five-wicket Pura Cup loss stung Queensland.Last Wednesday was the first time in 20 years it had lost a four-dayer to Victoria at the `Gabba.Oliver said his side had performed below-par in all areas – batting, bowling and fielding.”It hurt – it always hurts to lose, it’s never good fun, but the fact we let Victoria win in Brisbane for the first time in 20 years isn’t something we’re very proud of,” he said.”Let’s hope that motivates us into a bit of action.”Captain Martin Love also felt the Queenslanders knew some of the younger Victorian players a little better after last week.Love said the Junction Oval was a “bit of an MCG wicket” – probably lively early before flattening out into a good batting strip.Queensland recalled paceman Ashley Noffke for Mitchell Johnson (side), while Lee Carseldine will return for Craig Philipson.Victoria made one change, promoting leg-spinner Bryce McGain for Shane Harwood (hip), while captain Darren Berry remains sidelined with a broken finger.Squads (12th men to be named)VICTORIA: Cameron White (capt), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Brad Hodge, Bryce McGain, David Hussey, Mathew Inness, Michael Lewis, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Jonathan Moss, Peter Roach, Allan Wise.QUEENSLAND: Martin Love (capt), Lee Carseldine, Joe Dawes, Steve Farrell, James Hopes, Shane Jurgensen, Stuart Law, Ashley Noffke, Daniel Payne, Clinton Perren, Wade Seccombe, Chris Simpson.

A club match in Christchurch, New Zealand, turned ugly last Saturday when one player allegedly head-butted another before being punched himself.According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the incident occurred in the match between the Old Boys and Sydenham cricket clubs. An Old Boys batsman was dismissed, and was sledged by a member of the opposition as he walked off. The batsman reportedly then took matters into his own hands and head-butted the fielder. During the scuffle another Old Boys player ran onto the field and hit the Sydenham fieldsman from behind.Old Boys officials were unavailable for comment, but Sydenham’s vice-president Glenn Hooper thought the incident was appalling. He said, "This sort of thing has no place in what’s supposedly called the gentleman’s game." He added: "We are in the process of setting up a disciplinary hearing for the people involved from our side, and I would expect the Old Boys club to be doing the same."The Canterbury Cricket Association will conduct their own investigation into the incident, and may well ban the players involved. In England, the Surrey Championship recently imposed a three-year ban on the Hampshire offspinner Shaun Udal after he was found guilty of "physical violence on and threats to an opposition player" during a club game.

Not long after Steve Waugh announced his plans to retire at the end of Australia’s Test series against India, the first of many tributes came flooding in, with Sachin Tendulkar leading the way.”I think he set great examples in the way cricket should be played,” Tendulkar said. “He was completely at a different level as far as mental toughness is concerned. He’s someone I’ve really admired, he’s shown over the years that he’s very gutsy and when the time demands it, he’s there to deliver.”John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, also joined in, pointing out how the opposition always had total respect for him. “He’s been a wonderful captain, a wonderful batsman, a gritty, determined competitor.”Ricky Ponting, who took over from Waugh as the one-day international captain, and is now expected to lead the Test side too, said he wanted to enjoy the Indian Test series, which he sees as a celebration of Waugh’s success. He said: “What is important to me is that we all enjoy being a part of his farewell series, it’s sure to be something special.”Adam Gilchrist also paid his respects, citing the pride and passion Waugh instilled in the team: “I’m not saying players before him didn’t play with pride and value it, but he’s the main driver behind that passion and the aura of the baggy green.”John Buchanan, Australia’s coach, insisted Waugh would go down in history as one of the greats, both on and off the pitch. “He’s left a significant imprint not only on Australian cricket, I guess world cricket and even Australian society,” Buchanan decreed. “He is going to be, I think, revered as one of the great leaders of Australian cricket and Australian sport.”

Scorecard
Photo gallery
Live videoDay 5Bulletin – Hayden and Ponting seal victory
Verdict – Not rolled over
Quotes – Setting the stage
Quotes – ‘Sachin didn’t suggest it’
News – Pitching for trouble
News – Gillespie in Australian squad for Sydney TestDay 4Bulletin – Australia need 95 after India falter
Verdict – Wag the tail
Stats – A study in contrasts
Quotes and more – Williams – `A dream come true’Day 3Bulletin – Ponting leads Australian charge
Verdict – End of the Indian summer
Stats – Ponting’s mastery
Quotes and more – ‘I’m surprised Tendulkar didn’t come out to bat’
Roving Reporter – ‘It can’t end this way’
Comment – Should Zaheer have played?
Day 2Bulletin – Hayden and Ponting take charge
Verdict – Out of Jail
Stats – The perils of spongy bounce
Quotes and more – ‘It’s a rewarding place to play’
Day 1Bulletin – Sehwag century puts India in command
Verdict – The sublime savage
Stats – The length bowlers go to
Quotes and more – Sehwag – ‘I was too busy enjoying myself
Roving Reporter – The gladiator’s stage
Roving Reporter – Victoria Bitter at the MCG
Pre-match packagePreview – Unfamiliar territory for both sides
Facts and figures – Faster the better
Roving Reporter – Ferocity of desire
Comment – Missing McGrath
Feature – Brett Lee’s date with destiny
Feature – The fastest pitch in Australia
News – Lee replaces Gillespie for third Test
Comment – No signs of panic

Delhi 204 for 9 (Bhatia 100*) beat Rajasthan 181 (Khoda 68) by 23 runs
ScorecardEven the inclusion of Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, and Amit Bhandari could not give Delhi the bonus point it needed to challenge Mumbai for the Sahara Cup trophy. A paltry target of 205 looked eminently gettable for Rajasthan, but the middle order frittered away a good start, and the team fell 23 short of Delhi’s total.Sehwag took over captaincy from Ajay Jadeja for the game, and smacked a rapid 32, even as wickets fell at the other end. Shortly after his dismissal, Jadeja and Varun Kumar trudged back to the dressing room, and the score was a dismal 52 for 5. Rajat Bhatia stood firm amid the hail of wickets, and with Negi and the lower order, took matters into his own hands. Seven fours and two sixes flowed off his bat, while the rest of the batsmen could rustle up only seven boundaries between them. Bhatia’s 55-run stand with Negi was follwed by a 61-run partnership with Rahul Sanghvi. After Sanghvi’s dismissal, with Nehra and Bhandari for company, Bhatia got to a round hundred, as Delhi’s innings came to a close at 204 for 9.Rajasthan’s openers put on 62 within 10 overs, before Bhatia got the breakthrough, removing Yagnik for 26. This opened the sluice gates, as Sarandeep Singh, Bhandari, and Sanghvi ran through the batsmen, picking up six wickets between them. Only Gagan Khoda resisted for a length of time, scoring 68 off 60 with three hits to the fence. It didn’t win Rajasthan the game, but it did deny Delhi the single bonus point they badly needed.

At its meeting in Johannesburg today, the General Council of the United Cricket Board of South Africa agreed to host the inaugural ICC Super Series in September next year.Australia, the reigning one-day international and Test champions, will play three one-day internationals and a Test match against the Rest of the World. No dates and venues have yet been finalised. The matter will be taken further when the ICC president, Ehsan Mani, and its chief executive, Malcolm Speed, visit South Africa at the end of March.

Scorecard

Andrew Flintoff emerged as England’s hero with a thoroughly deserved Test-best 5 for 58 as West Indies collapsed to 224 all out on the first day of the third Test at Bridgetown. Flintoff also helped to justify Michael Vaughan’s decision to bowl first, as West Indies lost their last seven wickets for only 57 runs. England then ended a good day’s work at 20 for 1.Flintoff has earned himself the title of England’s unluckiest bowler thanks to the number of missed chances off his bowling. However, today he finally got some recognition for his whole-hearted efforts – although he still had his usual quota of dropped catches. He took the big wickets of Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who, along with Ramnaresh Sarwan, were the only batsmen to put up a fight for West Indies.England’s bowling – and fielding – wasn’t at its best. The attack tended to bowl too short, and there were three dropped slip catches. However, West Indies couldn’t capitalise on that, and despite a strong middle session, they had another day to forget.After the Windies had slumped to 20 for 2, Sarwan and Chanderpaul managed to steady the ship. Sarwan, the vice-captain, played sensibly, and added 68 resuscitating runs with Lara. He hit seven boundaries in his 19th Test half-century, and played shots all round the wicket, but without ever quite letting loose. Sarwan also put on 79 with Chanderpaul, until he drove airily at a full ball outside off from Stephen Harmison for Flintoff to take a head-high catch at second slip for 63 (167 for 4).Chanderpaul played one of his characteristic gritty, bitty innings. He stuck around for over two hours, but it should have been much less than that: at 10, he dangled his bat at another good-length delivery from Flintoff, and Mark Butcher, at third slip, fluffed a straightforward chance. However, Flintoff got his man later in the day, in the middle of the collapse, caught at slip – this time by Graham Thorpe, for 50 (198 for 7).The middle session was West Indies’ sole highlight in between more abject performances with the bat. While all eyes were on how the man of the moment Harmison would perform, it was the under-rated Matthew Hoggard who was the more threatening of the two, and he got England going. He was rewarded for his accuracy when he zeroed another one back into the left-handed Chris Gayle’s pads, and Rudi Koertzen sent him on his way, even though the replays suggested the ball would have missed leg stump (6 for 1).Daren Ganga, dropped early on by Thorpe and reprieved when seemingly trapped plumb in front by Harmison, couldn’t make the most of his let-offs. He finally padded up to one from Harmison that cut back in sharply. Hair lifted the dreaded finger, although the replays again suggested it would have missed off stump (20 for 2).Lara, as if to make up for his much-criticised decision to drop down to No. 6 in Trinidad, purposefully strode out after Gayle’s wicket. He took his time to get going, but then began to show signs of returning to his best with some belting cover-drives off both feet.But just as Lara was threatening to break loose, Flintoff struck gold. He forced Lara to prod forward at a full-length ball, and this time Butcher held on to the chance at gully (88 for 3). While England celebrated, Lara stayed there for a few seconds, holding his head in frustration at his loose shot and lack of footwork.

Flintoff will take all the plaudits, but it was Harmison who took the big wicket of Sarwan after tea, to prompt the major collapse. After Sarwan fell, Harmison literally bounced out Ryan Hinds. After clunking him on the helmet with a nasty short one, Harmison banged in two more throat-balls. Hinds took on the second one, but only spooned a catch to Simon Jones at fine leg (179 for 5). Then it was Ridley Jacobs’s turn to get the short stuff, and he found a Flintoff fireball too hot to handle, fending it away to England’s specialist substitute, Paul Collingwood, running in from point (197 for 6). Collingwood was on for Matthew Hoggard, who had succumbed to cramp. Another slip catch accounted for Pedro Collins, who edged Jones to Marcus Trescothick (208 for 8), and West Indies had lost five wickets for 41.Tino Best, dropped second ball by Butcher off Flintoff – no surprises there – added 17 valuable runs, but then the on-off Flintoff-Butcher combination worked for the second time, as Best gloved a catch out to the slips (224 for 9). That was Flintoff’s fourth scalp, and no-one was going to deny him that magical fifth. Fidel Edwards was the man who happened to be in the way, and when he tickled the ball behind to Chris Read, Flintoff was tickled pink. The emotion on his face was clear to see – even Duncan Fletcher, England’s usually taciturn coach, managed a smile.The only blemish for England was another failure for Trescothick, bowled by Edwards for 2 – he’s now scored only 20 runs in his last six Test ininngs – but Vaughan and Butcher saw out the rest of a long and satisfying day for England.

John Wright did nothing to clarify the much-debated matter of India’s opening combination for the final Test at Rawalpindi. “It is a good problem to have,” said Wright, talking about the possibility that the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh as opener could alter the set partnership of Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra. “We will take a decision on it immediately after the nets tomorrow. The tour selection committee – Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and myself – will sit down to solve the problem. All I can tell you is that it will be a left-hander or a right-hander.” While some people believe this is an indication that Yuvraj will replace Chopra, it is interesting to note that Wright has earlier indicated that Parthiv Patel was also in the reckoning for an opening slot.Yuvraj’s blistering hundred in the second Test has made it next to impossible for the team to leave him out of the playing XI, especially in the light of Dravid and VVS Laxman struggling for runs in this series. “We had Sourav for the first Test and when Yuvraj came in he did so well. He came up with a quality fifty, followed by a century. The good thing about him is he wants to be out there in the middle. Actually, we might go into this Test match with a non-specialist opener.” Once again this reference to a non-specialist opener could mean either Yuvraj or Parthiv.Wright left things hanging in the air some more when he praised Chopra lavishly for his efforts. “At the same time, Aakash Chopra too has done very well. You cannot condemn a player on the basis of failure in one match alone. He helped give us great starts in Australia and in the first Test, put on what, 160, with Viru. Opening is a specialist position, he has a job to do, but we may consider a non-specialist option this time. Also, don’t forget that in the long run, Viru views himself as essentially a middle-order batsman.”When asked whether it was necessary to even contemplate breaking up such a successful opening partnership, Wright countered, “Yes, that’s true, but given the situation we have, what would you do? It is an interesting problem.”In the bowling department there are less tricky problems. “Balaji and Pathan are pretty certain to play and it’s a toss up between Ajit Agarkar and Ashish Nehra. Also it depends on what is decided [by the team management]. If we want to bat first, we may even go in with two-and-two, two seamers and two spinners. Let’s see.”Pitches and tosses have come in for much discussion in this series, and Wright did not add fuel to the fire. “Everyone has an opinion about the wicket. The openers wouldn’t want to get anywhere near if they see a green top while the bowlers would be itching to have a go. Everyone has an opinion and a captain has to take all those into consideration before making his own. A captain who cannot decide whether to bat or bowl first is in trouble from the start.”Wright also refused to place undue importance on the fact that Mohammad Sami was injured and thereby a doubtful starter for the deciding Test. “It was the same in the last match and they had a bloke [Umar Gul] who just walked in and took five wickets. You’ve got to respect your rivals. The team that they put up is the team that has to do the job. And I am sure they’ll be trying real hard. Sometimes a new bowler can be dangerous – he’s never had a chance and they want to make the best of the opportunity.”